Ako Ang Simula Awards First Happy Computer Lab

It was nothing short of a town fiesta. Mothers preparing home cooked food. Barangay officials and DepEd representatives gracing the event. Teachers busy decorating and manning the special program.

Students excited for the big change about to happen in their school.

It’s been four weeks since Ako Ang Simula met the students of San Juan Elementary School in San Antonio, Zambales.  They are the grade five students with computer class, but no computers. They learn the parts of the computer through drawings and picture cutouts. They practice typing on keyboards made out of cardboards.

Grade 5 students of San Juan Elementary School.  Photo screen grab from episode.

Students use pictures of parts of the computers, and cardboard keyboards during their computer class.  Photo screen grabs from episode.

These students, along with students of 19, 019 other public elementary schools in the Philippines without computers, are the reason behind Ako Ang Simula’s Happy Computer Caravan. In coordination with the Department of Education, Happy Computer aims to provide computer units to schools like San Juan Elementary.

"Sana po magka-computer na kami!" Photo screen grab from episode.

What started as a simple computer drive turned into a full blast bayanihan of donors. Within the first week since Ako Ang Simula’s callout for donations, there were endless inquiries from people who want to take part in the project. Social media became a tool to make the callout viral. Individuals, families, OFW’s, schools and companies started sending in their donations. Even donors from the provinces were able to send computer units for free through JRS Express.

Various donors of the Happy Computer Caravan. Photo screen grab from episode. 

Week after week, donations poured in. Some are brand new, some second hand. All aimed to improve the quality of education in impoverished public elementary schools.

And came the day when the San Juan Elementary students’ dream of having real computers came true.

Last June 25, Ako Ang Simula awarded its first Happy Computer Lab to San Juan Elementary School.  The school was given seven complete computer sets to be used in their computer class.

The very first Happy Computer Lab. Photo by Nadine Leoncio. 

L-R: Our host, Anthony Taberna in the computer lab; students trying out the brand new computers; grade 5 student, Paula uses the computer for the first time. Photos by Nadine Leoncio. 

Now students can study the parts of the computer though real computers. No longer would they use imaginary monitors and make-believe CPU’s in class. Students of San Juan Elementary School can finally type, not on cardboards but on real working keyboards.

Because of your generosity, a new world of learning is opened to students who, just a month ago, have never used a real computer in their life.

Sino ang sususnod na paaralan na pasasayahin ng Happy Computer Caravan? Photo by Nadine Leoncio. 

San Juan Elementary School is just the first of the many public schools that the Happy Computer Caravan will visit and give a chance of a brighter future. With your continuous support in the project, we can bring smiles to more students all over the country. Log on to www.facebook.com/aastv for details on our next recipients and how you can help. 

Roanni


*Originally wrote this for Ako Ang Simula's webpage. See the online article here.:)
** Thanks Nadine Leoncio for some of the photos I used in this post.